Insulated structure



March 15, 1960 K. M. GLASOE, JR

INSULATED STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 6, 1955 -ly,'applicable to insulating other structures.

vflimiteci. S a P O INSULATED STRUCTURE Karl M. Glasoe, In, San Marino, Califi, assignor to Thorpe Insulation Company, a corporation of California Application September 6, 1955, Serial No. 532,677

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-9) The present invention relates in general to an insulated structure and a method of insulating structures and, since the invention is particularly applicable to insulating tanks, such as oil storage tanks, it will be considered in such connection herein with the understanding that it is equal- Also, the invention will be considered herein as applied to insulat- -ing a' vertical. structure, such as the side of a tank, it :being understood, however, that the same principles may be applied to insulating generally horizontal, or other nonvertical surfaces.

In general, the present invention contemplates insulating a tank by covering it with a layer of insulating material, which is then covered with a sheathing material for protective purposes, the insulating material minimizing heat transfer between the interior and the exterior of the tank. v In insulating the side of a tank in accordance with the invention, vertical supports or studs are secured to the side of the tank in spaced, parallel relation, the spaces between the vertical supports being filled with insulating material, preferably in the form of blankets secured to the side of the tank. The vertical supports are preferably hollow and are also filled with insulating material. The insulating material and the studs are then sheathed for protective purposes by placing over the insulating material and the studs overlapping courses of sheathing panels, which may be metallic panels, composition panels, or the like. A primary object'of the invention is to provide an insulating means of the foregoing general nature wherein the sheathing panels are so mounted on the side of the tank that they'float relative to each other and relative to certain of the vertical supports or studs. Such a floating mounting for the sheathing panels enables them to perform their function without damage thereto when the tank expands'or contracts, due for example, to temperature changes, filling or draining of the tank, and the like. In a large oil storage tank, for example, such expansion and contraction may be extremely large, and the present invention accommodates such expansion and contraction without damage to the sheathing panels.

Considering the invention more specifically now, an object is to provide an insulating means which includes main and intermediate vertical supports spaced, apart along the side of-the tank in alternating relation, insulating material between the supports and overlying the side of=the tank, overlapping courses of sheathing panels overlying the supports and the insulating material with each sheathing panel spanning the space between two of the main supports and overlying the intermediate i. Pa tented; Mar. 15, 1960 traction of the tank, which is an important feature of the invention. 1

Another object is to provide means interconnecting the sheathing panels in a manner permitting relative sliding movement therebetween in response to expansion and contraction of the tank, such interconnecting means slidably engaging the edges of the sheathing panels. With this construction, the sheathing panels are rigidly secured to the intermediate supports at their centers, and are lightly secured at their edges in a manner permitting relative sliding movement between the panels to maintain the desired floating mounting for the panels.

Another object is to provide means for interconnecting the overlapping edges of the panel courses in a manner permitting relative sliding movement, which includes clips connected to the main supports and slidably engaging the panel edges, and which includes S-shaped clips intermediate the supports and engaging the overlapping edges of the panels to permit relative sliding movement and receive the lower edges of the panels of the next higher course.

Another object is to provide means interconnecting the vertical panel edges in a manner permitting relative sliding movement therebetween comprising battens overlying the spaces between the sheathing panels of each course and attached to the main supports by fastening means extending through the spaces between the sheathing panels at the main supports.

With the foregoing construction, the horizontal panel edges are overlapped and the vertical panel edges are covered with battens, all in a manner permitting relative sliding movement of the panel edges to provide the desired floating action while still weatherproofing the insulating material underneath or behind the sheathing panels.

An important feature of the S-shaped clips mentioned is that, in addition to interconnecting the overlapping edges of the sheathing panels in a manner permitting relative movement ther'ebetween, they serve as a means of mounting the second and subsequent sheathing panel courses on the sheathing panel courses therebeneath, re spectively, while the sheathing panels are being secured at their centers to the intermediate supports, this dual function of the S-shaped clips being quite important. 7

The foregoing objects, advantages, features, and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be quite evident to those skilled in the art in the light of this specification, may be attained with the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail hereinafter. Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an oil storage tank insulated in accordance with the present invention;

Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged, fragmentary sectional views respectively taken along the arrowed lines 2-2, 3$, 4- 4 and 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along the irregular broken line 66 of Fig. 1;

support therebetween and with spaces between the sheathing panels at the main supports, and means for rigidly'securing the sheathing panels only to the mtermediate supports which they overlie. With this construction, the sheathing panels are 'rigidlysecured to the tank only at their centers so that they may float relative to each other to compensate for expansion and coni will now be; describediv of thetank' will lie-considered herein, the same principles being applicable-to the top wall 14.

One of the initial steps is to weld, or otherwise secure, studs 16, Figs. 2 and 7, to the side wall 12 in horizontally spaced, verticalrows. Also insulation-retaining pins 18 r 1 are welded, or'otherwise secured, to the exterior 'of the sidewall 12 between the vertical rows of studs 16, the

asfaspes",

pins 13 being arranged in "a m re or less regular pattern, a

After the vertical rows ofstuds" 16 have been secured to the side wall 12, vertical main and intermediate supports 29 and'22 are secured to the side wall'l2 in alternating relation by means of 'the vertical jrows of studs 16. In

other words, onevertical row of studs 16 is utilized to secure a main support 20 to the sidewall 12,. the .next vertical row of studs 16 is utilized to secure an intermediate support 22 tothe side wall 12, and so forth, a main support being shown in cross section in'FigQS, and an intermediate supportbeing shown in cross'section in Figs.

2 and 4. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, each studio projects through theintermediate support 22 shown, and its outer end is then peened over a washer 24, as indicated at 26, thereby securing the intermediate support 22 shown It will be noted that the-main and intermediate supto the side. wall 12. Each main support Zllan-d each "intermediate support 22 is secured to the side wall 12 by the studs 16 in the same manner.

ports 20 and 22 are channels which face inwardly'relative i to the. side wall. .12Nand which, are provided at their adjacent panels, as'typically shown inFig. 5 of the" drawing. It will be understood that the foregoing discussion in this paragraph is applicable not only to the sheathing panels 38 of the lower course 36, but to the sheathing panels 38 of all of the courses. Adverting to the lower course 36, after the sheathing panels 38 thereof havebeen; seated in the channels 44, or.

as each panel is seated in the channels 44 of the supporting clips 40 connected to themain supports-20 which it spans, the centers of; the sheathing panels of the lower-course are secured to the intermediate. supports 22 which they overlie. As best shown in Fig. 40f the drawings, each panel 38 is secured to the intermediate supportj22 which it overlies by one or more screws'50, sucb'as sheet metal screws. of the panels 38 to the intermediate'supports 22 represent the only rigid connections between the sheathing panels and the side wall 12 of the tank,all other portions. of

thesheathing panels'being. able to move relative to each other and to the supports =20, as will more fully appear hereinafter, to compensatefor. expansion'or contraction of the tank. It shouldbe pointed "out that this floating action is the reason for the gaps 48between.adjacentpanels 38' of each course, thesegaps closing as thetankcontracts and opening as the tank expands.

" To cover the gaps48,"battens 52 of any suitable ma;-

terial are placed over. the gaps and are. secured to the corresponding supports 20, as by means of sheet metal inner edges with flanges 28 seated against the side wall,

whereby the'studs .16 rigidlysecure the main and inter-:

mediate supports tothe side wall. To minimizeheat transfer throughthesupports 20 and 22 and the studs 16 which secure'them to the side wall 12, the channels forming the supports Zlland 22 are filledwith'insulating material, as indicated at..30.

After the foregoinghas been accomplished, the spaces between the supports 20 and 22 are filled with insulating material 32, preferably in the form of blankets or strips which are merely pressed inwardly into the spaces between the supports 20xand22 and against the side wall 12 so that'they are pierced by thepins '18. .The insulating ma- I a terial 32 is then retained by washers 34, Fig. 3, pressed oni a to thepins 18. r

The foregoing completed, theinsulated side wall 12 is now in condition for sheathing to protect theinsulating material32 against the weather. The sheathing procedure .The first: step. is .1 to. install a bottom or lower course 36 lowing-manner. .Asan initial step, supporting-clips 40, Figs. 6 and 9, for the sheathingpanels. 38'are secured to the main, and intermediate supports 20and 22 adjacent the, lower. endsthereof; As 'showniinfigs. 6 and 9, each supporting clip. 40 includes a tabi42 having at the lower end thereof an upwardly facing channel144. Asshown screws 54, Fig. 5, extending through the" gaps 48 and threadedinto'the main supports 20. The .verticaledges of the-sheathing panels 38 are slidable relative to the main supports 20 and. the batt'ens52, as well as relative to the supporting clips40 connected to the .main. supports 20,

' to attain the desired floating mountings. for the panels.

The 'foregoing completes the installation of the sheathing panels'38 of the lower course 36, these panels being 1 free to float relativeto the main supports 20 despite the of sheathingpanels 38, which: is accomplished in the folfact that the battens 52' cover the vertical. joints therebetwe'en. Thus, the battens in effect provide vertical expansion joints between the panels ofthe lowercourse.

After the first sheathing-panelcourse' 36'is completed,

a supporting clips 56 are connected to the main supports overlap. The supporting clips 56 may be secured to the in, Fig.6,thesupportingclips140 are securedto .thesupports 20 and 22 by means of screws 46, such as sheetrnctalscrews, extending throughjhetabs 42 into the supports 20 and 22, the. channels 44 of the supporting clips I 40 being positioned at the. level desired for the: lower The foregoing accomplished lthe sheathing. panels 3.8

edgesof the sheathing'panels38' of the .lowercourse 36. f

W main supports 20 in any suitable manner, as by means of sheet' metal screws 66gextendingthrough' the upper portions 62] thereof into the respective main supports 20. 'Concurrently with thev installation of the supporting clips-56; S-shapedsupportingclips 68, best shown in Fig.

10, are'installed." Referring to Fig." 10, each s-shaped dip is provided, with an inner, downwardly facing channel 70 and'anouter, upwardly facing channel 72,.

I the channels 70-and'72. beingspaced apartsufliciently-to of the lower course. 36. aretherr positionedover thesup- L ports 20 and 22 andthe insulating material .32; with their lower edges int thechannels 44 sothat the channels 44 support the sheathing panels of ltheqlower coursetemporarily. In order to permit the hereinbefore discussed floating action of the sheathing panels 38, the lower edges of thepanels of the lower course'36 make sliding fits in the channels 44. 1

It will be noted that, as best shown in 1 of the drawings, each panel 38 spansthe space betweentwo of the main supports 20 and thus overlies the intermediate support 22 therebetweeng Also,the widthof the panels 38 isso relatedilto the main support spacing astoprovide align the channels. 72": of theclips 68' with thechannels i 64 o r'theA-"clips56 when the upper channels-'70 are placed over theupper-edges of the sheathing panels of the pres ceding course: A's the 1 foregoing suggests, the upper channels 70 'of the' S-shaped clips 68 are merely'hooked over the upper; edges ofthe sheathingpanels38 of the lowercourse 36, best shown in Fig. 6,there preferably being-two s-shaped clips betweeii each; pair of vertical supports20 and 22., v

" After thefglips 56and have been installed in the foregoingmanner," thesheathing panels 380i thenext course; designated, by the numeral 74, are seated in the channels -64; ai d flr of" the clips 56 and 68 and are See The screwsconnecting the central portions cured to the intermediate supports 22 which they overlie, the lower edges of the sheathing panels of the course 74 making sliding fits in the channels 64 and 72 and the upper edges of the panels of the lower course 36 making sliding fits in the channels 70. From this point on, the panels 38 of the second course 74 are secured and battened in the same manner as the panels 38 of the first course 36 so that a repeated description is thought to be unnecessary.

Successive courses of sheathing panels 38, such as the courses 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86 and 88, are then installed in the same manner as the second course 74, the various operations hereinbefore described being repeated until the top of the side wall 12 of the tank is reached. The uppermost course 88 is then overlapped by a flashing 90, and the top wall 14 of the tank is then insulated, utilizing the same general principles as hereinbefore discussed. Consequently, it will not be necessary to consider in detail the manner in which the top wall 14 is insulated.

As hereinbefore suggested, a major feature of the present invention is that each sheathing panel 38 is rigidly secured at its central portion only, being rigidly secured to the intermediate support 22 which it overlies. The edge portions of each sheathing panel 38 are free to slide relative to everything else in the structure, such as the edge portions of adjoining sheathing panels, the various clips 40, 56 and 68, the main supports 20, and the battens 52. Thus, any expansion or contraction of the tank, due for example, to temperature changes, or filling or draining of the tank, merely results in movement of the sheathing-panel edges relative to the balance of the structure. Consequently, the sheathing structure of the invention can accommodate a great deal of tank expansion and contraction with no possibility of damage.

Another important feature is that the S-shaped clips 68 provide a means of interconnecting the horizontal edges of the sheathing panels 38 to retain them in their proper relationship, while still permitting the aforementioned relative movement, similar considerations being applicable to the battens 52, and to the support clips 40 and 56. However, the S-shaped clips 68 are particularly important since they serve the dual function of positioning the sheathing panels of a succeeding course and of interconnecting the panels of adjacent courses.

Although I have disclosed an exemplary embodiment of my invention herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may beincorporated in such embodiment, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims hereinafter appearing.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an insulated structure, the combination of: main and intermediate supports spaced apart along said structure in alternating relation; insulating material between said supports and overlying said structure; means including pins which have inner ends connected to said structure and which project outwardly through said insulating material for securing said insulating material to said structure; sheathing panels overlying said supports and said insulating material, each of said sheathing panels spanning the space, between two of said main supports and overlying the intermediate supports therebetween, the ends of said sheathing panels being spaced apart at said main supports; means securing each sheathing panel only to the intermediate support which it overlies; and battens secured to said main supports and overlying the spaces between and the ends of said sheathing panels, whereby said sheathing panels float relative to each other and relative to said main supports to compensate for expansion and contraction of said structure.

2. In an insulated structure, the combination of: main and intermediate supports spaced apart along said structure in alternating relation; insulating material between said supports and overlying said structure; a plurality of sheathing panels overlying said supports and said insulate ing material and arranged in overlapping courses, each of said sheathing panels spanning the space between two of said main supports and overlying the intermediate support therebetween, the ends of said sheathing panels being spaced apart at said main supports; means comprising a row of fastening elements rigidly securing each of said sheathing panels only to the intermediate support which it overlies; and means permitting relative movement therebetween for connecting said sheathing panels to each other and to said main supports, whereby said sheathing panels float relative to each other and relative to said main supports to compensate for expansion and contraction of said structure, the means last defined including supporting clips secured to said main supports and loosely and slidably engaging edges of said sheathing panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,531,027 Richards Mar, 24, 1925 2,511,083 Small June 13, 1950 2,684,171. Ernest July 20, 1954 2,714,516 iBrown ..'Aug. 2, 1955 y 

